From Training to Webside Manner – What you Should be Doing for Telehealth Success

A career as a telemedicine physician assistant is an attractive one with many perks, and with a job outlook that is forecast to increase by 31% between now and 2028 (Bureau of Labor Statistics), it’s a solid and stable position to be in, too.

You’ll consult with patients and provide treatment via phone or video conferencing, providing diagnoses, treatment plans and prescriptions under the coordination and supervision of a physician (though they don’t have to be present while you work).

With an attractive median salary of $112,260 in the United States (2019), you’ll see why many physician assistants have made the transition to telemedicine.

In this article, you’ll learn how you too can progress in a healthy career as a telemedicine physician assistant.

Training

Although you’ll be working remotely and away from a hospital or clinical setting, the role itself remains the same and therefore so does the training and qualifications required.

A bachelor’s degree is a prior condition for a physician assistant master’s degree program. During study, you’ll need to work in physical clinical settings that rotate in different medical sectors, such as pediatrics and emergency.

Licensing

On completion of study, you must become licensed by gaining the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination, and make an agreement with a licensed physician to supervise you when you practice.

Further to this, your duties as a telemedicine physician assistant will vary from state to state, in reflection of each state’s varying laws in how much medical treatment you can offer as an assistant. Therefore, you’ll need to obtain a license for each state you want to work in.

To advance your career as a telemedicine physician assistant, obtaining multiple licenses will broaden your work opportunities. You’ll become invaluable to hiring organizations. Your multiple licenses will help you to reach out beyond your residency, to higher-paying states like New York, California, and Texas, and to those where demand is higher than supply.

Skills to Work Remotely as a Physician Assistant

While you’ll be equally qualified as a physician assistant, working remotely as a telemedicine physician assistant requires extra skills to ensure accurate communication and diagnosis.

To advance your career as a successful telemedicine physician assistant, you should hold and polish the following skills:

·      Strong communication skills

Communicate clearly and simply so that patients can understand and respond appropriately.

Without seeing patients and their problems face to face, this is paramount to making correct diagnoses and treatment plans, and giving clear instructions executed only by creating two-way communication channels.

·      Patience

While technology allows patients to reach care more conveniently than ever before, it’s not always their preferred method. Patience is a skill that will enable a less stressful environment for both yourself and the patient.

·      Compassionate

Bedside manner must not evaporate just because you’re not by the patient’s side. Having excellent ‘webside manner’ will make the patient feel as though you are holding their hand and caring for them just the same. Maintain eye contact. Stay ‘in the room’ with them.

(Read our article on how to conduct the perfect virtual consultation.)

·      Problem solving

Problem solving is another skill that a physician assistant must possess, and must be accelerated to work remotely successfully, without the physical presence of a patient and their symptoms.

This may also be a huge advantage when it comes to technical glitches.

·      Detail-oriented

You’ll need to be organized and detail-oriented. This is an absolute must when keeping track of notes, medical records, and patient histories. Improving this ability will see your career flourish, with telemedicine providers keen to provide care that is backed by knowledge of the patient.

What to Include in Your Job Search

When looking for a role that will progress your career as a telemedicine physician assistant, consider the following:

Payment terms – Some companies pay by the hour, while others pay per consult. Figure out what works best for you and make sure you’re getting the best package.

Volume of work – You’ll need to make sure that who you’ve signed up with can provide plenty of work for you, so that you’re not twiddling your thumbs all day (especially if you’re paid per consultation).

Shifts and flexibility – Make sure you enquire about the shifts that are required and how this works with your life at home. Flexibility is a huge factor when transitioning to working remotely, so make it work for you.

Use a staffing agency – Staffing agencies will already have a great portfolio of reputable companies looking for hardworking and enthusiastic candidates likes you. Get onboard with them to increase your opportunities.

Summing Up

There are many ways you can enhance your skills for a hugely rewarding career as a telemedicine physician assistant. Ensuring that you continually develop will help you to continually upgrade your career, your job satisfaction, and your earnings.

Discover your next job here, at TeleHealth Gigs.